Belt-buckle assembly



P 1954' v LESSER 'ETAL 3,148,426

BELT-BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTORS JACK LESSER BY LEON H. HALBER p 1964 J. LESSER ETAL 3,148,426

BELT-BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 13, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ENTORS- JACK Lesg n u-zom HALBER TTORNEY United States Patent 3,148,426 BELT-BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Jack Lesser, Wyncote, and Leon Halber, Philadelphia,

Pa, assigners to Atlas Novelty (Iornpany, inc, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 398,717 7 Claims. 1 24-49) This invention relates to a belt and belt-buckle assembly, and it particularly relates to such an assembly wherein the buckle is utilized for additional purposes.

It has heretofore been proposed to utilize a belt buckle as a container for holding various items such as data sheets and the like. However, these prior buckles were fixed to the belt and could not be removed therefrom without interfering with their function as a buckle. Consequently, the additional uses to which they could be put were sharply limited.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a belt and belt-buckle assembly wherein at least a part of the buckle is adapted to be removed from its attachment with the belt and utilized as a completely movable, separate unit without interfering with the availability of the buckle for holding the belt in place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt and belt-buckle assembly of the aforesaid type wherein the buckle includes a container having a readily openable door but where both the door and the container itself are securely locked in position when attached to the belt.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a belt and beltbuckle assembly embodying the present invention, with the belt being shown broken away at each side.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 5 secured to a belt, the belt being shown fragmentarily.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a belt and belt-buckle assembly, generally designated 10, which comprises a belt 12, made of leather, cloth, plastic, metal or any other desirable material, and a buckle 14.

The buckle 14 comprises a bracket 16, made of metal or any other desired substantially rigid material, having a back plate 18, a pair of side flanges respectively designated 2i and 22 and a bottom flange 24. Each side flange is provided with a perpendicular lip, as at 26 and 28 respectively, these lips being in a plane parallel with the back plate 18. The side flange 22 is further provided with an elongated slot 30 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof.

Attached to the central portion of the rear surface of the back plate 18, as by riveting, welding or any other desired means, is a substantially rigid strip 32, preferably of the same material as the bracket 16, which is provided at one end with an eyelet 34 and at the opposite end with a hook 36. Permanently engaged by the eyelet 34 is a link 38 which is, in turn, connected to a loop 40 at one end of the belt 12. The hook 36 is adapted to be releasably engaged by a link 42 attached to a loop 44- at the opposite end of the belt 12.

Releasably seated within the bracket 16 is a housing 45 of generally rectangular shape and of a size to snugly but slidably fit between the side flanges 2i) and 22 of the bracket 1a. The housing 46 is preferably made of metal, rigid plastic or any other substantially rigid desirable material and is defined by upper and lower walls 48 and 5t and a rear wall 52. The upper and lower walls are each provided with a generally oval-shaped aperture, as at 54 and 56 respectively, these apertures being arranged at one end of their respective walls and in vertical alignment with each other. The apertures 54 and 56 serve as journals to pivotally support upper and lower vertical hinge-pin extensions 58 of a flange 6t) integral with one edge of a cover plate 62. The flange 69 provides an end wall for the chamber within the housing whether the cover plate 62 is open (as in FIG. 3) or closed (as in FIG. 2). The opposite edge of the cover plate 62 is provided with a flange 64 similar to and parallel with the flange 66. The flange 64 is provided with a small recess 65 in the central portion of its outer surface and this recess 66 is adapted to receive and frictionally engage with a lug 68 on the inner surface of a latch plate 70 integral with and perpendicular to the remote edge of the rear wall 52 of the housing, whereby the cover plate 62 is releasably locked in the closed position.

Integral with the upper end of the free edge of the flange 64 is a projecting finger-grip 72. This finger-grip 72 has an inner portion extending perpendicularly straight out from the free edge of the flange 64 and an outer portion slightly offset from the inner portion for easier grasping.

The finger-grip 72 serves not only as a means to grasp the hinged cover 62 and move it into and out of closed position, but it also acts as a guide and releasable engagement means for securing the housing 46 to the bracket 16. This is accomplished by means of a slidable interengagement between the finger-grip 72 and the slot 39. In this connection, when the housing 46 is to be secured to the buckle portion of the belt, it is placed above the bracket 16 and then slid down between the side flanges 26 and 22. During this sliding movement the finger-grip '72 automatically enters the top-opening slot 36 and is frictionally engaged thereby. This engagement not only secures the housing to the bracket 16 but also locks the cover plate 62 against inadvertent opening. This prevents accidental opening or" the housing and spilling of its contents while the belt is being worn with the housing in place.

Although the housing 45 may be used as a container for various purposes, it is here illustrated as forming the casing of a ladies compact wherein a container of face powder 74 and a powder-puff 76 is positioned within the housing. On the front face of the cover plate 72 is provided a spring clip 78 which releasably holds a lipstick unit 89. The lipstick unit 813 is of such design and is so arranged in the spring clip that it forms a part of the ornamental design of the entire buckle.

The use of the above-described device is apparent from its construction. The belt and buckle assembly is worn by a woman with the housing 46 secured in place on the bracket 16. Since the housing 46 and its accompanying parts constitute a complete make-up unit, there is no necessity for the woman to carry a handbag just for this purpose. She merely pulls the lipstick unit from its clip when she desires to apply lipstick to her lips or merely slips the housing 46 from the bracket 16 when she desires to powder her face. This device is especially useful to a woman engaged in an active sport such as bowling, tennis, golf or the like since she has her make-up kit with her at all times and yet her hands are completely free for engaging in the activity. Other uses to which the housing may be put are as a pill-box, a change or money purse, a key-case, etc.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 there is shown a modification of the invention wherein the buckle, generally designated 190, is similar to the buckle 14 in that it includes a bracket 102 attachable to a belt and a removable housing 1% releasably seated within the bracket 192. The bracket 102 is identical to the bracket 16 except that its back plate 106 is provided with a vertical slot 108 extending from its upper edge to a position spaced from the lower edge. On the rear face of the back plate 106 a hinged eyelet 110 is provided at one side of the slot 198 and a hook 112 is provided at the opposite side of the slot. The eyelet 11% is adapted to be connected to a loop in the belt similarly to the link 38 and the hook 112 is engageable by a link or eyelet on the belt similar to the hook or eyelet 42..

The housing 104 is identical to the housing 46 except that it is provided on its rear face with a rigid eyelet or loop 114. This loop 114 is slidable into and out of the slot 1% with which it is adapted to be in releasable frictional engagement whereby it reinforces the frictional engagement between the finger-grip 116, corresponding to finger-grip 72, and the slot 118, corresponding to slot 30. The loop 114 has the additional function of being utilizable as an attachment means between the housing 104 itself and a belt, such as shown at 126 in FIG. 7. By this means, if it is desired to wear the housing 1% as a separate attachment on the belt, aside from its use as a buckle element, as, for example, if a woman wishes to wear it as an ornamental but readily accessible compact, it is merely necessary to remove it from the bracket 102 and slip it on to any belt desired, regardless of whether or not the belt is equipped with the particular type of buckle.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention claimed is:

1. A belt buckle assembly com rising a bracket, said bracket having a back plate, a pair of oppositely-disposed side flanges extending forwardly from opposite edges of said back plate, a lip on each side flange defining a channel in each side flange, a bottom flange extending forwardly from the lower edge of the back plate, and an open top between the side flanges, one of said side flanges having a longitudinal slot which opens upwardly, a belt attachment means on the rear face of said back plate, said attachment means having an eyelet on one end engaged with a link which is, in turn, permanently engageable with one end of a belt, and a hook on the opposite end of the attachment means, said hook being releasably engageable with a link on the opposite end of the belt, a housing having an open front face, a cover plate hinged to said housing and movable into and out of covering position against said front face, a releasable latch means for releasably holding said cover plate in said covering position, a finger-grip on the free edge of said cover plate opposite its hinged engagement with said housing, said housing being of a size and shape to snugly and slidably fit in said bracket between the channels of said side flanges, said housing being slidable relative to said bracket through said open top of said bracket, and said fingergrip being constructed and arranged to slidably engage within said longitudinal slot when said cover plate is in said covering position and when said housing is being sldably engaged with said bracket, said finger-grip being slidably disengaged from said longitudinal slot when said housing is slidably disengaged from said bracket.

2. A belt buckle assembly comprising a bracket, means for connecting said bracket to one end of a belt, means for releasably connecting said bracket to the opposite end of said belt, an open-faced housing releasably connected to said bracket, 2. cover plate hinged to said housing and hingedly movable into and out of covering position over the open face of said housing, a latch means on said housing releasably holding said cover plate in covering position, and lock means on said housing and on said bracket simultaneously releasably locking said cover plate in its covered position and releasably locking said housing to said bracket, said bracket being provided with a slot and said housing being provided with a rigid loop releasably and slidably engageable with said slot when said housing is connected to said bracket.

3. The belt buckle assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a compact having cosmetic components therein.

4. The belt buckle assembly of claim 2 wherein said bracket is provided with a second longitudinal slot which opens upwardly and said housing is provided with a rigid lug releasably and slidably engageable with said second slot when said housing is slidably engaged with said bracket.

5. A belt buckle assembly comprising a bracket, means for connecting said bracket to one end of a belt, means for releasably connecting said bracket to the opposite end of said belt, an open-faced housing releasably connected to said bracket, a cover plate hinged to said housing and hingedly movable into and out of covering position over the open face of said housing, a latch means on said housing releasably holding said cover plate in covering position, and lock means on said housing and on said bracket simultaneously releasably locking said cover plate in its covered position and releasably locking said housing to said bracket, said lock means comprising a finger-grip on said cover plate and a slot in said bracket, said housing being slidably engaged with said bracket and said fingergrip being slidably engaged in said slot simultaneously with the slidable engagement of said housing with said bracket.

6. A belt buckle assembly comprising a bracket, means for connecting said bracket to one end of a belt, means for releasably connecting said bracket to the opposite end of said belt, an open-faced housing releasably connected to said bracket, a cover plate hinged to said housing and hingedly movable into and out of covering position over the open face of said housing, a latch means on said housing releasably holding said cover plate in covering position, and lock means on said housing and on said bracket simultaneously releasably locking said cover plate in its covered position and releasably locking said housing to said bracket, said bracket comprising a back plate and two oppositely-disposed side flanges, said housing being slidable between said side flanges in face-to-face relationship with said back plate, one of said side flanges having an open-ended slot therein and said cover plate on said housing having a finger-grip which, when said cover plate is in covering position, is positioned to slidably engage within said slot while said housing is being slid between said side flanges, said finger-grip being frictionally but releasably engaged with the edges defining said slot.

7. A belt buckle assembly comprising a bracket having an open face defined by a pair of oppositely-disposed side channel members, means for releasably connecting said bracket to one end of a belt, means for releasably connecting said bracket to the opposite end of said belt, an open-faced housing releasably positioned on said bracket, said housing being slidable into and out of position on said bracket between said channel members, a cover plate hinged to said housing and hingedly movable into and out of covering position over the open face of said housing, a latch means on said housing releasably holding said cover plate in covering position, and lock means on said housing and on said bracket simultaneously releasably locking said cover plate in its covered position and releasably locking said housing to said bracket, said cover plate being framed within the open face of said bracket between said channel members and being accessible from outside said bracket when it is in closed position and when the housing is positioned on said bracket between said channel members References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,296 Johnston Sept. 15, 1885 6 Nicoll July 30, Sayko Sept. 19, W aibel Apr. 7, Carroll Nov. 26, Kuehner Sept. 16, Velez Mar. 29,

FOREIGN PATENTS Austria May 11, 

7. A BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BRACKET HAVING AN OPEN FACE DEFINED BY A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY-DISPOSED SIDE CHANNEL MEMBERS, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID BRACKET TO ONE END OF A BELT, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID BRACKET TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BELT, AN OPEN-FACED HOUSING RELEASABLY POSITIONED ON SAID BRACKET, SAID HOUSING BEING SLIDABLE INTO AND OUT OF POSITION ON SAID BRACKET BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS, A COVER PLATE HINGED TO SAID HOUSING AND HINGEDLY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF COVERING POSITION OVER THE OPEN FACE OF SAID HOUSING, A LATCH MEANS ON SAID HOUSING RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID COVER PLATE IN COVERING POSITION, AND LOCK MEANS ON SAID HOUSING AND ON SAID BRACKET SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID COVER PLATE IN ITS COVERED POSITION AND RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID HOUSING TO SAID BRACKET, SAID COVER PLATE BEING FRAMED WITHIN THE OPEN FACE OF SAID BRACKET BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS AND BEING ACCESSIBLE FROM OUTSIDE SAID BRACKET WHEN IT IS IN CLOSED POSITION AND WHEN THE HOUSING IS POSITIONED ON SAID BRACKET BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS. 